Taiwan Tati Cultural and Educational Foundation

US needs to recalibrate its policies on Taiwan

Gerrit van der Wees

On Feb. 11, the US House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific held a hearing on the future of US-Taiwan relations after the momentous Jan. 16 presidential and legislative elections, which saw Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) elected president and gave the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) a majority in the Legislative Yuan.

While both the administration of US President Barack Obama and members of US Congress lauded Taiwan’s vibrant democracy and expressed support for enhancing relations with the democracy, there was still a lot of bureaucratic inertia, too much caution and a lack of real vision for future relations.

Visa rejection is a step backwards

Taipei Times Editorial

President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) administration’s alleged refusal to issue visas to three prominent human rights activists invited to attend the first Asia-Pacific Religious Freedom Forum constitutes a step backwards for a nation that has taken pride in its endeavors to safeguard human rights.

The forum, which opened in Taoyuan yesterday and is set to run through Sunday, offers a platform where leaders of various religions and government representatives can put aside their differences and engage in open dialogue about religious pluralism and human rights.

Ma Ying-jeou’s accidental legacy

Bret Hinsch

As President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) eight years in office draw to a close, the time has come to reflect on the legacy that he leaves behind. Yet strangely, Ma has declared Republic of China (ROC) citizens unqualified to judge his performance.

Faced with a long series of polls showing dissatisfaction with his policies, he always brushed aside his lack of popular support as mere miscommunication. If only he could explain things properly, surely everyone would understand that he has done a superb job.

China deploying missiles in Paracels

Taipei Times

A Chinese HQ-9 surface-to-air missile launcher is pictured at the 2014 Airshow China in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province.
Photo: CNA

The Ministry of National Defense is keeping abreast of developments amid reports the Chinese military has deployed an advanced surface-to-air missile system to Woody Island (Yongxing Island, 永興島) in the South China Sea, spokesman Major General David Lo (羅紹和) said yesterday.

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